Richard Casady wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:01:46 -0700 (PDT), Mark
wrote:

On Jun 7, 3:55 pm, Gordon wrote:
On the subject of sewing and sunbrella in particular, how do you cut
the stuff and work with it without the edges unraveling?
I thought about trying a soldering iron to cut it.
Gordon
Pinking shears; if you don't want to invest in a hot knife.

Go to Radio Shack and buy a pencil soldering iron. They make a hot
knife blade that screws right on. Get some rosin core solder while you
are at it. Get a gun as well if you have the bucks and storage for it.
Consider lead free solder, 95% tin and 5% silver, twice as strong,
melts at 375. Less melted insulation. More flavor, less filling. They
might have some tinned wire big enough to be useful. 14 awg will
handle fifteen amps. They got the heat shrink tubing. You can spend
some bucks, but you need to have it already if the boat breaks
offshore. A small inverter is all you need for the hot knife.

One of the more useful tools I carry is the butane powered Weller
soldering iron/hot knife. Its perfect for small soldering (not enough
BTUs for large cable) and also the hot knife easily cuts and seals any
line or synthetic fabric you might use. And, of course, its cordless,
but you will need to carry a small butane canister for refills. Used on
almost every trip.
http://www.amazon.com/WELLER-PORTASO.../dp/B000WOHSHM